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Auction: 16012 - Meiso Mizuhara, The Exhibition Collections, The Chinese Customs Post
Lot: 1521

China
1878-83 The Large Dragon Issue
Design Essays and Proofs
Perforated Elephant Essay
A left margin block of four being from the fourth and fifth rows of the original block of fifty, printed on thin 'cigarette' paper. The block has been folded through the horizontal perforations, there is some additional bending or creasing and a small water stain around a hinge remainder.


The use of this thin paper was to enhance the printing, however, the ink was not evenly spread and there are variations in the black printing across this block. A very important item from this design as few blocks now remain intact.

provenance: Sir Robert Hart,

John A. Agnew,

Sir Percival David, October 1970



Although the frame designs are very similar across all three designs, note the very distinctive "A" in "CHINA" on the elephant design

Sold for
HK$1,100,000